apostles symbols

8/2/2019 Apostles Symbols

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The Twelve ApostlesofJesus Christ


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St. AndrewAndrew was a brother of theapostle Peter and a follower ofJohn the Baptist. Like his brother

he was a fisherman. Andrewimmediately recognized Jesusas the Messiah and later waschosen by Him to be one of HisTwelve Apostles. Andrew was

present at the Last Supper, hewitnessed the Ascension and hebeheld the risen Jesus. Andrewshared in the graces and gifts ofthe first Pentecost and hehelped establish the Faith.

Since he was crucified onan X-shaped cross (whichis called "Saint Andrew'scross) it is one of his

symbols. A symbol of twocrossed fish has also beenapplied to Andrew,because he was formerlya fisherman.


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St. BartholomewMany scholars identify him withNathaniel (John, i, 45-51; xxi, 2).The manner of his death, said tohave occurred at Albanopolis in

Armenia, is equally uncertain;according to some, he wasbeheaded, according to others,flayed alive and crucified, headdownward, by order of Astyages,for having converted his brother,

Polymius, King of Armenia. Onaccount of this latter legend, he isoften represented in art (e.g. inMichelangelo's Last Judgment) asflayed and holding in his hand his

own skin.

Because he was flayedalive with knives hisapostolic symbol is threeparallel knives.


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St. James the GreaterIn all four lists the names of Peterand Andrew, James and Johnform the first group, a prominent

and chosen group (cf. Mark, xiii,3); especially Peter, James, andJohn. These three Apostles alonewere admitted to be present atthe miracle of the raising of

Jairus's daughter (Mark, v, 37;Luke, viii, 51), at the ansfiguration(Mark, ix, 1; Matt., xvii, 1; Luke, ix,28), and the Agony inGethsemani (Matt., xxvi, 37;Mark, xiv, 33).

His symbol is threeshells, the sign of his

pilgrimage by thesea.


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St. James the LesserSt. Paul tells us he was awitness of theResurrection of Christ;he is also a "pillar" ofthe Church, whom St.Paul consulted about

the Gospel.

Because James bodywas sawed in pieces, thesaw became his

apostolic symbol.


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St. JohnAfter the Resurrection John withPeter was the first of the disciples tohasten to the grave and he was thefirst to believe that Christ had trulyrisen (John, xx, 2-10). When later

Christ appeared at the Lake ofGenesareth John was also the first ofthe seven disciples present whorecognized his Master standing onthe shore (John, xxi, 7). The FourthEvangelist has shown us most clearlyhow close the relationship was inwhich he always stood to his Lordand Master by the title with which heis accustomed to indicate himselfwithout giving his name: "the disciplewhom Jesus loved".

It is said that an attemptwas made on Johns life

by giving him a chalice

of poison from whichGod spared him. Achalice with a snake init is his symbol.


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St. JudeJude is invoked indesperate situationsbecause his New

Testament letterstresses that the faithfulshould persevere in theenvironment of harsh,difficult circumstances,

just as their forefathershad done before them.Therefore, he is thepatron saint of

desperate cases.

The chosen symbol forJude is the ship because

he was a missionarythought to be a fisherman.


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St. Matthew

When summoned by Jesus,Matthew arose and followed

Him and tendered Him a feast inhis house, where tax-gatherersand sinners sat at table withChrist and His disciples. This drew

forth a protest from the Phariseeswhom Jesus rebuked in theseconsoling words: "I came not tocall the just, but sinners".

The apostolic symbolof Matthew is three

money bags whichremind us that he wasa tax collector beforeJesus called him.


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St. MatthiasMatthias was one of the seventydisciples of Jesus, and had beenwith Him from His baptism by Johnto the Ascension (Acts i, 21, 22). It is

related (Acts, i, 15-26) that in thedays following the Ascension, Peterproposed to the assembledbrethren, who numbered onehundred and twenty, that theychoose one to fill the place of thetraitor Judas in the Apostolate. Two

disciples, Joseph, called Barsabas,and Matthias were selected, andlots were drawn, with the result infavour of Matthias, who thusbecame associated with theeleven Apostles.

Matthias was chosen totake the place ofJudas among theApostles. His symbol isthe lance. It is an old

tradition that SaintMatthias was martyredin southern Asia withsuch a weapon.


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St. PeterWhile journeying along with His Apostles, Jesusasks them: "Whom do men say that the Son ofman is?" The Apostles answered: "Some Johnthe Baptist, and other some Elias, and othersJeremias, or one of the prophets". Jesus saidto them: "But whom do you say that I am?"

Simon said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of theliving God". And Jesus answering said to him:"Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: becauseflesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee,but my Father who is in heaven. And I say tothee: That thou art Peter [Kipha, a rock], andupon this rock [Kipha] I will build my church[ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall notprevail against it. And I will give to thee thekeys of the kingdom of heaven. Andwhatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shallbe bound also in heaven: and whatsoeverthou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosedalso in heaven". Then he commanded hisdisciples, that they should tell no one that he

was Jesus the Christ (Matt., xvi, 13-20; Mark,viii, 27-30; Luke, ix, 18-21).

Peter was martyred onthe cross. Peter requestedthat he might becrucified head

downward for he was notworthy to die as his Lordhad died. His apostolicsymbol is a cross upsidedown with crossed keys.The keys represent Peter

as holder of the keys tothe Kingdom of Heaven.


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St. PhilipHe may have been a disciple ofJohn the Baptist and is mentioned asone of the Apostles in the lists ofMatthew, Mark, Luke, and in Acts.Aside from the lists, he is mentioned

only in John in the New Testament.He was called by Jesus Himself andbrought Nathanael to Christ. Philipwas present at the miracle of theloaves and fishes, when he engaged

in a brief dialogue with the Lord, andwas the Apostle approached by theHellenistic Jews from Bethsaida tointroduce them to Jesus. Just beforethe Passion, Jesus answered Philip's

query to show them the Father.

The symbol of Philipis a basket, becauseof his part in the

feeding of the fivethousand. It is hethat stressed thecross as a sign ofChristianity andvictory.


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St. Simon the ApostleIn the New Testamenthe is sometimes calledSimon the Zealot

because of the zeal heshowed for the Mosaiclaw which hepracticed before his

call.

His apostolic symbol is afish lying on a Bible,which indicates he was

a former fisherman whobecame a fisher ofmen throughpreaching.


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St. ThomasSt. Thomas is remembered for hisincredulity when the other Apostlesannounced Christ's Resurrection tohim: "Except I shall see in his handsthe print of the nails, and put myfinger into the place of the nails,and put my hand into his side, I willnot believe" (John 20:25); but eightdays later he made his act of faith,

drawing down the rebuke of Jesus:"Because thou hast seen me,Thomas, thou hast believed;blessed are they that have notseen, and have believed" (John

20:29).

He was killed with aspear as a martyrfor his Lord. Hissymbol is a group

of spears, stonesand arrows.

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